PNP insists Calbayog mayor’s slay not an ambush

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of Calbayog City, Samar was not ambushed by police anti-narcotics officers, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said yesterday.

Citing an initial report he received from Police Regional Office (PRO) 8, Sinas said police only retaliated after Aquino’s security escorts opened fire at their vehicle.

“No, it’s not an ambush. As per initial report of the regional director of PRO 8, accordingly, it was mistaken by the mayor’s security escorts that the other vehicle was traveling along their same direction,” he told reporters in English and Filipino in an ambush interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Aquino’s ally Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento, however, said what happened was an ambush, noting that there were witnesses saying policemen shot the local chief executive’s group first.

Sinas said it is possible that Aquino’s escorts became suspicious of the vehicle tailing them, unaware that they were police officers of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) who were about to inspect police stations to check their readiness against possible threats from communist rebels.

“They suspected that they were being followed,” Sinas said.

The IMEG and PDEU are mandated to form red teams and conduct surprise inspection of their personnel, according to the PNP chief.

Aquino and two companions were killed. The other fatalities are two police officers and a civilian who was caught in the crossfire.

Sinas has directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to join the investigation on the incident.

He said the CIDG would assist the special investigation task group (SITG) in the probe while the IAS would conduct a separate inquiry on the possible administrative liabilities of the policemen involved.

“I have requested the IAS to conduct motu propio investigation now and send personnel to conduct a parallel case to find out what really happened,” he added.

Asked about Sarmiento and Aquino’s family’s request for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the incident, the PNP chief expressed belief that they see no problem if the NBI will conduct a separate investigation, but insisted that the PNP would not stop its own inquiry.

“If that’s the request, it’s also their right, but for our part, it’s our job to also conduct a separate investigation. It does not matter,” Sinas said.

10 days

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday gave the NBI 10 days to submit a progress report on the status of its probe on the death of Aquino and five others.

In Department Order (DO) 057, Guevarra instructed NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor “to submit reports on the progress of the subject investigation directly to the Office of the Secretary within 10 days and periodically thereafter.”

DO 057 authorized the NBI to conduct an investigation on the shooting incident in Calbayog, Samar last Monday afternoon.

Guevarra further told the bureau’s agents that once they gather the necessary pieces of evidence, it should “file the appropriate charges against all persons involved and found responsible for any unlawful act.”

He directed the NBI be impartial since policemen are reportedly involved in the shooting incident.

The justice secretary said he would leave the operational detail to the NBI to decide which investigating unit to tap for this assignment.

“Normally, it’s the field office of the NBI that conducts the investigation. But in sensitive cases, operatives from the main office are sent in,” he added.

NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said the bureau would utilize its Samar District Office based in Catbalogan City, Samar that is under the supervision of its regional office located in Tacloban City.

The NBI, however, will be “augmented by our forensic team from Manila. (We have already) deployed yesterday our forensic team, they are still on the road,” Lavin added.

‘Orchestrated ambush’

City mayors all over the country have condemned killing of Aquino and five others in what they called an “orchestrated ambush” last Monday.

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) appealed to authorities for a thorough investigation on the case to bring swift and immediate justice for Aquino and the other victims.

“We count on them to bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act and seek all witnesses that may provide clarity on the unfortunate incident,” the LCP said in a statement.

Aquino was a member of the LCP and had served as a regional representative in the 2013-2016 National Executive Board.

The LCP said its member mayors are emboldened to continue efforts against criminality and lawlessness to keep cities and the public safe and secure.

“This cowardly act executed in broad daylight is a sobering call for vigilance and a cry for the restoration of absolute peace and order,” it added.

The statement of the 146-member LCP was signed by its national president Mayor Evelio Leonardia and other officials. – Romina Cabrera